I am still working on the two projects I told you about a few weeks ago: a hat for my daughter and fingerless gloves using leftover yarn. I have learned a few things while working on these projects. In no particular order:
1. I prefer DPNs instead of magic loop.
Until I started working on my Roku Mitts, I thought I preferred magic loop, even though I have used both DPNs (double-pointed needles) and magic loop successfully. I chose to do my mitts with magic loop mostly because I didn’t own any DPNs in the correct size. But I discovered that I particularly dislike magic loop when there are not many stitches on each needle (32 total in this case). I spent more time fiddling with the needles than actually knitting. After I gave in and bought some DPNs I was knitting much faster!
Roku Mitts on DPNs
Both methods have their uses, but I will no longer shy away from using DPNs!
2. Gauge is important.
I know, I know. I already knew this. But I was playing around with different gauges to adjust the size of my daughter’s hat and I gained a little more understanding about how gauge affects finished sizes. My first hat attempt was WAY too small.
3. Trust pattern sizing.
My daughter has a small head. And I want her hat to fit well and not be too big. So even though I measured her head, and the pattern designer listed finished hat sizes, I started knitting a size smaller than I should have. And guess what? My second hat attempt was too small.
Yellow Hat – the correct size
Third time’s a charm, and I am now making the size hat that matches my daughter’s measurements. And wouldn’t you know, it fits!
From Scratch 